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Feng Y, Huang X, Zhao W, Ming Y, Zhou Y, Feng R, Xiao J, Shan X, Kang X, Duan X, Chen H. Association among internalizing problems, white matter integrity, and social difficulties in children with autism spectrum disorder. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 135:111109. [PMID: 39074528 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.111109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by social difficulties and often accompanied by internalizing and externalizing problems, which are frequently overlooked. Here, we examined and compared fractional anisotropy (FA) between 79 children with ASD (aged 4-7.8 years) and 70 age-, gender-, and handedness- matched typically developing controls (TDCs, aged 3-7.2 years). We aimed to explore the relationship among social difficulties, internalizing and externalizing problems, and brain structural foundation (characterized by white matter integrity). Compared with the TDCs, the children with ASD exhibited more severe internalizing and externalizing problems, which were positively correlated with social difficulties. Reduced FA values were observed in specific white matter tracts that integrate a fronto-temporal-occipital circuit. In particular, the FA values within this circuit were negatively correlated with internalizing problems and SRS-TOTAL scores. Mediation analysis revealed that internalizing problems mediated the relationship between the FA values in the left middle longitudinal fasciculus (L-MdLF) and corpus callosum forceps major (CCM) and social difficulties in children with ASD. These findings contribute to our understanding of social difficulties, internalizing and externalizing problems, and white matter integrity in children with ASD and highlight internalizing problems as a mediator between social difficulties and white matter integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Feng
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China; MOE Key Lab for Neuro information, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China
| | - Xinyue Huang
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China; MOE Key Lab for Neuro information, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China
| | - Weixin Zhao
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China; MOE Key Lab for Neuro information, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China
| | - Yating Ming
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China; MOE Key Lab for Neuro information, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China
| | - Yuanyue Zhou
- Department of Medical Psychology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, Hainan, PR China
| | - Rui Feng
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China; MOE Key Lab for Neuro information, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China
| | - Jinming Xiao
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China; MOE Key Lab for Neuro information, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China
| | - Xiaolong Shan
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China; MOE Key Lab for Neuro information, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China
| | - Xiaodong Kang
- Child Rehabilitation Unit, Affiliated Sichuan Provincial Rehabilitation Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM, Sichuan, Bayi Rehabilitation Center, Chengdu 611135, PR China
| | - Xujun Duan
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China; MOE Key Lab for Neuro information, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China.
| | - Huafu Chen
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China; MOE Key Lab for Neuro information, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, PR China.
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